Specifics: As the third largest North American component distributor — and the only direct competitor to Avnet, Arrow Electronics, and WPG Holdings — Future Electronics is an outlier of sorts. The company is privately held, carries virtually no debt, and has achieved much of its growth organically. Unlike many of its competitors, Future Elecronics is willing to hold inventories for long periods of time — meaning, it acts as a virtual lender to manufacturers and long-term partner to suppliers.

Compared to its direct competitors, Future Electronics is also relatively young. Its was founded in 1968 by Robert Miller, a Canadian-born visionary (some say “recluse”) whose business savvy allowed his company to grow without the use of loans or public funds. Only two years after starting Future Electronics, Miller is said to have brought the company to $2 million in sales.

Nowadays, Future Electronics has achieved a global presence, and it runs numerous business divisions that offer solutions in lighting, connectivity, display, energy, supply chain and engineering — all in addition to its primary distribution segment. Miller is the standing President and CEO of the company.

Glassdoor: Based on 111 reviews on Glassdoor.com, Future Electronics received 2.7/5 stars, with 30% of respondents recommending the company to a friend. Based on 20 ratings Future Electronics CEO, Robert Miller, received a 67% approval rating.